Italian Greyhound
Description
The Italian Greyhouond is a very old breed of sighthound and he is without a doubt the smallest of the sighthounds. Skeletal remains of a small Greyhound have been found in a 6000 year old tomb, as well as in the remains of the city of Pompeii. They have been favored by Kings and Queens throughout history, even an African Chieftain was enamored of this dog. The Italian Greyhound stands between 12 and 15 in. tall at the withers. There are two weight classes with this breed…8 lbs max. and over 8 lbs. Greyhounds have a very short, silken coat that comes in a variety of colors red, fawn, black, blue, slate gray, light gray, or cream usually patterned with white.
Temperament
This is a soft spoken gentled natured dog. He has a sweet disposition and is very loving, and attached to his owner. The Italian Greyhound is a intelligent dog, and can be easily trained by a gentle pack leader. They are very capable of getting along with dogs, and cats with proper socialization. They will accept well behaved children as long as the children are mindful. The Italian Greyhound make a fantastic companion pet, and some people even suggest getting two to keep each other company.
Grooming/Exercise
Super simple to care for the Italian Greyhounds beautiful coat. Give it a rubdown with a chamois, and only bathe him when needed making sure to get him completely dry afterward and keep him warm. You will need to brush his teeth daily to keep the gums healthy, and to prevent decay and tooth loss. They need a great deal of exercise beginning with a long walk. They will also require a safe and secure area where they can be let off lead to run. You should find an Italian Greyhound play date group. They should be supervised in all play activities. They do great in apartment living as long as you provide the the needed exercise to keep him happy and healthy.
Health
Life Expectancy is 12 to 15 years.
Possible Issues
- Slipped Stifle
- Fractures
- PRA
- Epilepsy
